New pigeon -- Some general questions

[SIMZ]

Hello! My son is picking up a "stray" pigeon from someone on craigslist. The family had it for 4 weeks and was unable to find the owner.

So - would anyone be able to help us with a few questions?

1) What can we feed it until we get to the feed store on Monday? Our pet store is out of pigeon food right now. Is there something we could substitute?

2) The feed store sells 50# breed or popcorn pigeon feed? Which is best and is there something we could permanently substitute in a smaller quantity.

2) Can only one be kept? This is a single pigeon. Will it be happy that way or does it need another?


We'll be busy researching and learning, but I thought I'd see if we could get some quick answers to those two questions here first.

Thanks!

 

[aaabirdman]

You can buy some Red milo and Flaxseed along with un popped corn seeds for to feed him. I would not recommend keeping him by himself.

 

[fowlsessed]

Yes, it's best to have them in pairs. Just give him any seeds, grains and peas/lentils (no beans, toxic) That you can purchase cheap at the store or that you have around the house. You have chickens, so then just give him layer pellets (or any grains you have for the birds), they do great on it and that's actually all they need. That's all I feed and I know other good breeders who that's all they feed as well. You can give them a couple handfuls of bird seed every day as a treat if you want them to have something other than just pellets in their diet. Make sure they have all the fresh water they can drink as they drink more eating the dry pellets. The only reason I feed layer pellets instead of regular pigeon feed is because I get a bag of 22% layer pellets for $10 and the pigeon feed goes for about $20. Also be aware that if feeding an all grain pigeon feed then you'll need to feed 'red pigeon grit' It's grit that also has vitamins and minerals in it. However, If you are feeding a pre-made pelleted feed especially for pigeons or layer pellets then all they need is regular grit. Some people like to supplement some oyster shells as well, but I don't as I find that the layer pellets has been supplying everything just fine. So basically, you can treat them pretty much like chickens........Yup.

Hope that proved to be of some help, and good luck with your new addition.

 

[VCF123]

You can feed them cracked corn. I keep mine in a group of 6 and they seem fine. If you want to raise them get nest boxes. If you want it to fly keep it put up for about six months. Good luck

 

[SIMZ]

Thank you for the suggestions and advice!

Ok - now here's the next question. We've determined that this little cutie is an Old German Owl Pigeon. How do we go about finding a friend for him? My son's friend has pigeons and would probably sell one, although they aren't that kind. Does it matter if it's not the same kind of pigeon? We also don't know if this is a male or female......can two males or two females be kept together?

Thanks for your patience!

 

[fowlsessed]

Actually, you don’t need to pair him up with the same kind. Of course, that’s unless you want to raise some of the same breed. It also happens to be that you don’t exactly need a real ‘pair’, two cocks or two hens have been known to pair up. But obviously it doesn’t always work that way and it is better to get a real ‘pair’. The cocks usually are the ones that ‘talk’ a lot with coos and grunts. The hens sometimes will ‘talk’ during nesting procedures but it’s very seldom. It’s really hard to tell what they are unless you’re observing mating behavior or the cocks are showing off. I would question if it is really an OGO, but if it is then that’s great. As for locating some I would try slobberknocker lofts classifieds, but just do a search and several breeders should come up as well as the OGO club and try their breeder’s directory which you will find helpful. Feel free to ask any more questions, everyone on here is very helpful and informative.

 

[SIMZ]

Here is a picture of it on my son's shoulder. It has a funny, little cap on its head and some frilly things on its chest, also. It coos a lot and does a lot of prancing around while cooing. It may not be that kind, it was just the closest match I came up with (pretty close, though) when looking at pictures online.

 

[fowlsessed]

He is cute, and seems tame. If it's dancing and cooing around a lot then chances are it's a cock, but again, single hens are prone to do it more often as well. But I think you'd be safe to call it a cock. He does look like an OGO, and I'm not that good with all the breeds anyway.

 

[redneckrabbitry]

it looks to be a German owl cock. his color is red barred. feel his pelvic bone if narrow its a male and wide its a female. i raise German owls and a few other breeds as well

 

[larrylofts]

TRY THE NATIONAL PIGEON ASSN. SITE NPAUSA.COM THERE MIGHT BE A CLUB NEARBY OR AT LEAST TRY THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR